Location and Maps

Slovakia lies in the heart of Europe. Using
JewishGen's Resource Mapping,
you can see that Huncovce is a village and municipality in Kezmarok District in the Presov Region of north Slovakia.
Huncovce is so small, that to locate it, just 3 miles WSW of Kezmarok, you need to zoom in on the map. (This map was extracted from Mapy.sk), and you can see its proximity to Kezmarok -- about one hour's walk away!

Another way to locate it can be seen on this map, from
Google Maps,
on the road to Poprad, and one third of the way between Kezmarok and
Poprad. It is located toward the northeastern border of
Slovakia, northeast of Poprad and south of the Polish border, at
Latitude 49°7´ N, Longitude 20°23´ E. Its population in the 21st
century is 2400
and is located on the Poprad River.

Where Jews lived in the in the 19th Century on the same map. Mikulas Liptak, who lives in Kezmarok, a town very close to Huncovce, collaborated with this page's compiler (Madeleine Isenberg),
since 2004. He painstakingly indicated with colored dots where Jews
once lived in the Spis Region. For some of the towns, some dots
indicate Jewish cemeteries that have already been documented there, or
are in process.

Background Information

One can find information on the general
history of the town of Huncovce from various sources including the
internet. Very few sources mention anything about the Jews who once lived
there. For an overview of the Jewish perspective, and so as not to repeat the same information, refer to the section on Huncovce, translated from the Hebrew in Pinkas Hakehillot Slovakia. (Note: There are many sections within this book still requiring translation!)

In this KehilaLinks page, the intent is to provide material about the
Jewish community in Huncovce that has not yet appeared in English
anywhere else. As such, this material has been translated from sources
in Hebrew, Yiddish and Slovak.

Among the several books written by Rabbi Leopold GREENWALD, there is Mekorot Lekorot Yisrael,
written in Hebrew. Material for that book was originally compiled
when, as a young yeshiva boy of 14, in 1903-1904, and under the
supervision of his rabbi, Rabbi Samuel ROSENBERG, he took an
interest in visiting the old and new cemeteries in Huncovce and copying
down the inscriptions of the towns esteemed rabbis. He also pored
through Huncovce's kehila archives to glean other relevant information,
such as the construction of the synagogue and the rules of order for the
members of the kehila. He also took time to talk to the elderly
inhabitants and learn from their experience. He returned again to visit
Huncovce in 1913 and finish his work, and the Rabbi, remembering what
he had done, encouraged him to finish his book. But he did not
actually complete this book until 1934. Thanks to this precious book,
we have the only exisiting information about the tombstones that are no
longer to be found and information to correct other sources. We are
also indebted to his son, Mr. Jack "Yankele" Greenwald for his valuable
assistance and patience.

The text below was translated and adapted from pages 316-321 in
the book written (in Slovak) by Eugen Bárkány (1885-1967) and Ľudovít
Dojč (1915-1995), Zidovske Nabozenske Obce Na Slovensku (Jewish Religious Communities in Slovakia),
published in Bratislava in 1991. Thanks are due to Miss Monika Jasova,
of Kezmarok, Slovakia, for her initial translation from the Slovak into
English, and for assistance to this webmaster in editing the text into
what follows below.

The following section describes the history of Huncovce as it
pertains to the Jews who came to live there in the middle to late 18th century and onward.

History of the Jews of Huncovce

The oldest information about Jews and the Jewish community -- once
very famous for its yeshiva -- was compiled by university professor Dr.
Gyözö Bruckner. In his work The History of the Spis Region, its Contemporary Inhabitants, he states:

“One must include Jews among the youngest inhabitants of
the Spis region considering that until the 18th century Jews were not
allowed to live within the walls of German towns. However, the
landowners permitted Jews to settle in their land and estates provided
they pay high fees and taxes. … While in 1728 only two Jewish families
lived in Huncovce, by 1735 six families lived here already, and in 1754
the number increased to 31 families…”

In the old cemetery (partially now underwater) close to the Poprad
River, where people have not been buried for more than 200 years, there
is a tombstone on which the year 1697/1/
could be read. The other two remaining tombstones resembled this oldest
tombstone in material, size, shape and style of engraving. From this we
could safely conclude that Jews lived in Huncovce even in the 17th
century. Peter Ujváry also confirms this. He says that Jews began
establishing a community in the beginning of the 17th century with an
established religious community by the middle of the century. According
to Ujváry the village of Huncovce was a ghetto in the Spis region for a
long time because 16 other towns in the Spis didn’t permit Jews to live
within their town’s walls.

The first rabbi in Huncovce was Benjamin SINAI who died in 1708 /2/.
But the first written records about the development of this religious
community toward the end of the 17th century, were written in the middle
of the 18th century. One such document is dated 1757. It is a report
containing recollections of the second rabbi, Rabbi SUSSKIND, who had been a rabbi in Tarnow before settling in Huncovce. After Susskind, Rabbi Jozef RAPPAPORT became the rabbi. His three-volume work Bigdei Kodesh (Holy Garments) became widespread all over Europe. At the end of 18th century Yecheskiel LÖWY was the rabbi of Huncovce and after him came Joab BILLITZER the author of the book Chen Tov (Good Grace). Jecheskiel WEIL followed him as the rabbi and was the author of the great exegesis of the Pentateuch, Torath Yecheskiel (Yechezkel’s Torah) . In 1812 Mordechai BRODA, the grandson of the famous rabbi of Frankfurt, Abraham Broda, was the rabbi. His successor was the famous Salamon PERLSTEIN who came from Lithuania. In 1883 he was appointed rabbi of the administrative district.

At the beginning of the 19th century, Huncovce played an important role
in the history of Jews in Spis. The development continued in a positive
way until the end of the century. At that time many religious
communities were being established in the Spis region and in the village
of Huncovce in 1821, a monumental synagogue was built.

As far as the extensive list of rabbis of Huncovce is concerned, the most notable was Rabbi Samuel ROSENBERG
because it was under him that the Huncovce yeshiva flourished the most.
Rabbi Rosenberg succeeded in leading his yeshiva to such an extent that
it became legendary world-wide and students from all the over the globe
began coming to Huncovce.

Even today, Rabbi Rosenberg’s teaching method is considered to be one
of the most progressive and most advanced teaching methods of Jewish
theological pedagogy. Rabbi Rosenberg was first of all an educator and
secondly a teacher. He considered hands-on work to be the best
educational method; in science “exactitude” was his primary principle.
He rejected superficiality: that was why he hated emotions and outbursts
of feeling. His speeches were examples of factuality and consistent
logic. Always in a good mood, kind-hearted, gentle but strict, he won
many friends not only among Jews but also among those of other
religions. The number of students in his audience increased to 300.

Even Sir Samuel HORN, son of the first Palestine governor,
was one of them. The rabbi was also modern and methodical when managing
his yeshiva, the administration, and board of this theological
seminary. Students’ self-government was also exemplary; with its own
disciplinary commission, health service and self-education group. Every
Shabbat (Saturday) one of the students of this group had to give an
exegetical lecture. Samuel Rosenberg was born in 1825 in Mad. He died in
1918 and is buried in the new cemetery in Huncovce.

Tombstone of Rabbi Samuel Rosenberg

Refurbished Tombstone of Rabbi Gyula (Yehuda) HOROWITZ,son-in-law of Rabbi RosenbergDetail of his Marker

The rabbis who followed him at the time of the first Czechoslovak
Republic, had neither the knowledge nor the authority or experience of
their predecessor. They tried to expand the yeshiva, laying the
foundations of the new building, but they only managed to complete the
foundations and main walls. The number of students steadily decreased to
just two dozen. Rabbi Joseph Jonah
Tsvi HaLevi HOROWITZ, grandson of Rabbi ROSENBERG, became the head of
the rabbinate after 1919, and also became the head of the Yeshiva. In
his time, about 200 young men learned in the yeshiva. The non-locals
among them lived with local Jewish families, but the old custom of
“essen teg” (daily food) at the home of the hosts stopped after Rabbi
Joseph Jonah Tsvi HOROWITZ opened a restaurant for the yeshiva students. However, they still needed places to sleep. (See more about this on "Town Views".)

The number of students steadily decreased to just two dozen. As these also left the yeshiva, the once world-famous establishment, aimed at training rabbis in competition with the most famous yeshiva in Bratislava (of the Chasam Sofer), ceased to exist. Tragically, Huncovce’s last rabbi, Salamon HOROWITZ, son of Yehuda, was deported during World War II.

One also has to recognize the leading personalities (rashei kehilot)
of the religious community. Without their generous organizational and
administrative support the rabbis themselves could not have handled the
serious economic and personal problems connected with such a huge
religious community. The main task of representatives of the religious
community was to maintain order in the village, reduce friction among
the various fractions and movements, as well as take care of the
religious court (Bet Din). Considering the differences in
philosophical and theological opinions in such a huge community it was
not an easy task. That is why the honored families (KURZ, GRAUS, ROTH, REINITZ and FRÄNKEL) contributed greatly in taking leadership of this huge religious
community, when it flourished in the 19th century. By the end of the
19th century still more and more Jews were moving to other towns in the
Spis region and so the large village of Huncovce gradually declined. In
1851, 928 Jews lived in Huncovce, in 1930 the number was 194 and today /3/ only a few still live there.

After World War II the synagogue was rebuilt, but in a way that lost its
original character. The interior was used for storage. When built in
1821, this classic synagogue was designed – like many others, the way
that Polish synagogues were built, with the typical primary feature of
four columns in the middle, with the columns round the bima /4/ (as in Bardejov /5/
and Šebastová). This is how the synagogue becomes divided into nine
parts with a vault. The four exterior columns of the synagogue in
Huncovce are especially beautiful. The high, smooth and delicately
carved ionic columns at the top make a tasteful impression. This was
something of an imbalance considering the elegant bima and baroque
sculpture around the Torah-ark. The baroque sculpture was destroyed
during the Second World War.

One of the peculiarities of the synagogue was that the mikveh was
situated in the basement. Leading to the basement, was a grand staircase
(almost 13 meters long) in three parts. The middle part of the
staircase led to the main area of the synagogue (with dimensions of
16.20 x 17.50 meters). Besides the four columns in the middle of the
synagogue there were two more for women under the balcony – this was how
three additional vaults were made. The facade of the synagogue was very
attractive and harmonious on all sides. The protruding part of the
entrance part of the synagogue was decorated with a big tympanum under
which there were four Ionic pillars contributing to the classic shape of
the entrance. Also the roof and other parts were designed and built in a
classic and tasteful manner. So there is no doubt that this synagogue,
built of bricks and stone – was one of the most beautiful synagogues in
Slovakia. It is a pity the synagogue was partly damaged by bombs during
the Second World War.

The yeshiva building was never finished. The construction was started by
Ing. Jozef KOVACS from Kezmarok. He couldn’t finish it because of
political circumstances – the Slovak state came into existence and
World War II broke out.

The old cemetery lies right on the shore of the river Poprad. In fact
a part of it is marked by the river and some tombstones lie directly in
the water. The cemetery covers the area of 60 x 18 metres. It is
situated on a flat ground and the tombstones are small, historic.
Inscriptions (in Hebrew only) are engraved deeply on the stones. Here is
a tombstone on which the year 1697 can be read. The total number of
tombstones or their ruins is approximately 54, but assuredly, many
tombstones have been lost .

The new cemetery lies to the east of the village approximately
300-400 meters away on the hillside. It is enclosed by several stone
walls, implying that the cemetery was enlarged several times. On the
west side there is no stone wall but barbed wire fence. There are many
trees and bushes in the cemetery. Gravestones are generally intact;
there is no evidence of violence. In the middle of the cemetery there is
a path approximately two meters wide. Along the sides there are rows of
graves; some specifically for the graves of Levites and Cohens. The
shape of tombstones is usual. The oldest stones date from the beginning
of the century and are of an empire design. On one of the tombstones
dated 1833 there is a carving of a goose quill in the hand of the
deceased. It is probably the grave of a scientist or a sofer, (the Torah scribe).

On the building of the Tsiduk Hadin /6/,
which has no roof there is a visible Hebrew inscription in convex
letters stating: “Memorial stone for all Jewish descendants.”

A well-liked man, competent in the Torah
wisdom and lover of God, our famous teacher, Rabbi Noah Yitzchak Eisig,
may his memory be blessed, decided – when his spirit moved him – to
build this temple and it so happened in the year of (?) month of Sivan.”

Considering
the tolerance of inhabitants and municipal authority, it seems that the
cemetery is going to be preserved for a long time.

Notes:

According to p. 6 in Greenwald's book, the
actual date of death, per the tombstone, was 18 Shevat 5466,
corresponding to 2 February 1706. continue reading

Considering when Barkany probably stopped
writing, i.e., before his death in 1967, his reference to "today" is
possibly 45 years ago. continue reading

A Bima is a table on which the Torah is placed while being read to the congregation. continue reading

The synagogue in Bardejov has just been
renovated, and a group of people, including many from Los Angeles, will
be going to visit in May 2012. continue reading

Another name for the Bet Tahara, place for the preparation of the body for burial. continue reading

Other Sources of Information

Books

Some of these books are rare and difficult to find, but have
invaluable infomation about the life and times of Jews in Slovakia
and/or Austro-Hungary, of which it was once a part. For those who read
Hebrew or Yiddish, the first three books below can also be found on-line
thanks to the website of HebrewBooks.org.

Toisent Yor Yiddish Leben In Ungarian - A Thousand Years of Jewish Life in Hungary, by Yekutiel Yehuda (Leopold) Greenwald, New York, 1945 (in Yiddish).

Mekorot Korot Yisrael (Sources for Jewish History), by
Yekutiel Yehuda (Leopold) Greenwald, Berehove, 1934 (in Hebrew).
Subtitled History of the Jewish Communities in Slovakia, Hungary,
Transylvania, and Yugoslavia. Note: Berehove is now in the Ukraine, and
was also known as Beregszász, in Hungarian.

Toldot Yehudei Huncovce v'Hasviva, The History of the Jews of Huncovce and its Surroundings, by Mr. Shmuel Dov Gvaryahu-Gottesman, published, Jerusalem, 1992 (in Hebrew).

Zidovske Nabozenske Obce Na Slovensku (Jewish Religious Communities in Slovakia)
by Eugen Bárkány and Ľudovít Dojč, Bratislava, 1991 (in Slovak).
This appears to be the definitive work, since it is referenced by almost
all the other sources regarding Jewish communal life in Slovakia.

Jews in the Spis Region, I. Kezmarok and its Surroundings,
by Mikulas Liptak and Madeleine R. Isenberg, 2nd edition, Kezmarok,
Slovakia, 2010. This is a dual language book, in Slovak and English
and some copies are still available for purchase. (ISBN
978-80-89264-48-9)

Contributors of Content

Since this website was first created
(19 April 2012), several people had contributed
information, photographs, and journals that they had either from the
time they themselves lived there (pre-World War II) or from their
ancestors who once lived in or near Huncovce. Some material has yet to
be published on this website and we welcome more information to expand
this website.

Thanks are due to the following people:

Jan Gurnik, resident of Huncovce, and amateur historian, and provider of invaluable photographs and documents.

Harry Zinn of Santa Monica, California, and his late father
Eugene ZINN, a native of Huncovce -- his family's sole Holocaust
survivor.

Monika Jasova, of Zvolen, Slovakia, who completed a Masters degree in
English in 2011, and translated material from Slovak into English.

Stuart Offer of Oakland, California, for a journal of his
great-grandfather, Charles OFFER, born in Huncovce in 1851, who
emigrated to the USA in 1866, and then traveled from San Francisco to
visit Huncovce and back again in 1888!

Frantiček Bányai, who heads the Prague Jewish Community, and has a very useful website of European Judaica postcards. He kindly allowed me to use four postcards on the Town Views of this website.

Lori Rosen, who is descended from the ZIMMERSPITZ family who had a bakery in Huncovce. Other family names she is connected to in Huncovce are: SCHINDEL and FREY. Thanks for sharing two postcards.

There have been visits to this page since19 April 2012, Holocaust Memorial Day.

This site is hosted at no cost by JewishGen, Inc., the Home of Jewish
Genealogy. If you have been aided in your research by this site and wish to
further our mission of preserving our history for future generations, your JewishGen-erosity
is greatly appreciated.